Bag handling machinery



March 2, 1948. w. DODGE BAG HANDLING MACHINERY Filed April 7, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 1 Nm. um.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

W Donar f BAG HANDLING MACHINERY March 2,v 1948.

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March 2, 1948. w. DODGE y BAG HANDLING MACHINERY` Filed April 7, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 4 mfmmhn www NQ ifm-HHH ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 2, 194s BAG HANDLING MACHINERY Wesley Dodge, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Paterson Parchment Paper Company, Bristol, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 7, 1945, Serial No. 587,157

8 Claims. (Cl. 226-49) This invention relates to improvements in devices for removing a bag from a stack of bags, opening the bag and positioning'the open bag to receive a charge.

In my previous Patent 2,293,937 of August 25, 1942, I have shown a bag positioning and opening device. This structure was utilized successfully in the packaging of various materials such as carrots and the like.

The present invention is concerned with improvements in the class of machines generally disclosed in my aforementioned patent, the device of the present invention being particularly characterized by the fact that it can be employed with bags of varying size and is not dependent on a supply of bags of only one length or width. It is further characterized by its rapidity of operation, the fact that it operates with great accuracy, removing each bag in succession from a stack of bags and placing it in open position to receive a charge of the material to be placedtherein and, nally, by the fact that little pull or ystress is placed upon a bag during movement into charge receiving position from the bag stack and opening to receive the charge. Y

It is in general the broad object of the present invention to provide an improved bagrpositioning and opening device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved bagfopener in which little stress is placed upon the bag. f

The invention includes otherv objects and features of advantage, some of which, together with the foregoing, will be disclosed thereinafter, wherein the present preferred bag opening device of this invention isV disclosed.

In the drawing accompanying and forming Va part hereof,

Figure 1 is a side view of a form of bagopene of the present invention.

Figure 21s an enlarged side view showing operational movement of a portion of the b ag opener.

Figure 3 is a partial end view of the right end of the bag opener (Figure 2) showing the location of various parts on the shaft along the line 3 3 of Figure 1. f v

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, showing the engagement of the ratchet wheel utilized in operation of the bag opener.

Figure 5 is a partial end View of the bag holder and the operating rollers.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing operational movements of parts atV the left hand end of the bag opener as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an end view of the left hand end of the bag opener looking toward the left end of the machine along line 1`1 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a section along the line 8--8 in Figure 1 while Figure 9 is a section along the line 9---9 in'Flgure 8.

vFigure 10 is a side elevation of a bag engaging unit in position to engage a bag from off a stack.

Figure 11 is an end view of the unit actuated tor retain a bag while Figure 12 is a side elevation of the unit in this position.

The machine of the present invention includes a novel form of bag engaging device for attachmentto a side of one bag on a stack. Means are also provided for moving the device to deliver an engaged bag to means which engage opposite sides of the bag and then open the bag while the engaging means returns to engage another bag. The several means are shown in association asin one form of machine which I have built and successfully operated. However, while they will be described in this association, it is to be understood that they can be incorporated in other and different associations as d'ened in the claims which appear hereinafter.-

The frame provide the necessary support for the various machine units.

Weighing mechanism Mounted upon the top of the frame in a receiving positiois a weighing mechanism generally indicated at I 1i.r This includes a receiving hopper I6 pivotally Vsupported at one end of a balance arm or lever I1 pivotally mounted as at I8 on frame extension 32; The other end of the balance arm carries a suitable counter balance weight I9 movable along portion 2l of the balance arm.,

- The receiving hopper is made of a top portion in the kform of a ring 22 on which is mounted for hinged Y movement a plurality of cooperating conical sections 23 hinged upon the ring 22 as by rods 24 secured to extensions 25 on each conical section, the rods being passed through and rotatable inv ears 2l on the ring. The several conical sections are symmetrical and cooperate to form a cone shaped hopper which opens up to permit articles deposited therein to pass on through.

An arm 28 is provided on the ring 22, the arm being pivotally connected by link 29 to an eX- tension 3|' on the supporting frame .32 for the balance'beam I1 so that a parallel linkage mechanism is provided as a guide for the weighing hopper.

. AThe hopper is lled by hand or by any suitable vdischarge mechanism, preferably one discharging a weighed batch. Mounted for a hinged `movement on the ring 22 (Figures 1, 8 and 9) is a lever arm 36 notched to engage pin 31 on Hopper movement The hopper is movable between a raised and a lowered position. In its raised position the hopper receives the batch prior to dischargingVV it into a bag. In this position, lever 438 being engaged with stop 39, the several conical hopper segments are held closed. The engagement of notched arm 36 with pin 31 locks the segments together so that contents of the hopper are retained until the hopper has descended into its lower or discharge position wherein arm 36 is released from engagement with stop 39. As the hopper moves into this position, lever 36 engages stop 43, also mounted on'the upright 4I. In this position lever 36 is rocked and its connected segment is open. This opening movement of the segment is communicated to the other segments by suitable interconnecting levers indicated generally at M (see Figure 8) carried on each of the rods 24. Thus the opening movement of the segment carrying extension 38 is effective to open all the other segments and discharge the contents of the weighing hopper.

In Figures 1 and 2 I have indicated by dotted lines a suitably positioned bag I in place and opened to receive the hopper. The bags are delivered by a suitable bag delivery mechanism to be presently described in detail. As appears in Figures 1 and 2, the bag is retained by fingers 52-53 and Ito-|22. Each bag is cut away on one side adjacent the bag top so that the bag has a short side 58-A and a long side 5II-B which can be engaged by fingers I2U--I22 while the short side is engaged by fingers 52-53. As the cone shaped weighing hopper descends into the open top of the bag to discharge its contents, the bag is spread apart and further opened. Thereupon the contents of the hopper drop into the bag forcefully, whereupon the bag drops through the frame onto a conveyor (not shown) which carries the filled bag away.

The drive Means are provided for delivering and for opening each bag as delivered and for coordinating each bag delivery with a hopper discharge operation. 'Ihis means includes a source of power such as an electric motor 1I mounted upon the frame. The electric motor has a shaft 63 on which is fastened gear 64 in mesh with gear 85 on shaft 88 mounted on suitable brackets 61 on frame I2. A pulley 68 is fastened on shaft 66 driving a belt 12 extending about pulley 13 fastened to shaft 14 mounted on frame l2 by bearings 69. Shaft 14 is maintained in axial alignment in the frame I2 by thrust collars 10. A chain 80 is passed about a sprocket 15 on shaft 1d and a sprocket 16 secured to a ratchet 18. The sprocket and ratchet rotate together freely on the shaft 11 when motor 1I is running. A driving connection ismade between the ratchet 18 and the shaft 11 by pawl 19, mounted upon an arm I secured to the shaft by a suitable lock screw 82 engaging a hat on the shaft.

The engagement of the pawl withthe ratchet is controlled by suitable means coordinating the bag delivery operation with the movement of the hopper between the discharge position and the receiving position. Rod extension 2|, when in 4 hopper discharge position, engages a stop 83 on a slidablymounted rod 84. In the hopper receiving position the rod engages stop88 also mounted upon the rod Rod 84 is slidably mounted on the frame with one end thereof connected to a bell crank 81 mounted for a hinged movement on a portion of the frame. Also mounted upon the bell crank is a lever 88 biased to move in a clockwisedirection bys'pring 89. The lever includes a notch 9i formed therein and adapted to receive a projection ,92 on cooperatively adjacent lever 93. Lever 93 is also biased in a clockwise direction by spring 9d and is normally held against a pin 98 by the spring. Lever 93 projects upwardly and can engage a pin 98 carried upon the pawl 19.

With lever 88 in that position in which it appears in Figures 1 and 2, upon the hopper passing into its discharge position, the rod 84 is moved upwardly and bell crank 81 is rocked in a clockwise direction whereby notch 9| overrides and engages tooth 92 on the lever 93. When the rod is moved, upon return of the hopper to its receiving position downwardly to that position in which it appears in Figure 4, arm 93 is rocked against the tension of spring 94 and is held in Vthis position until the rotating pawl 19, rotating Vshaft 11 whereby 'the bag deliveryand opening is actuated.

Bag opening The means provided for opening the bag as it advances to filling position includes a crank I8! on the shaft 11, A connecting rod H12 is extended between crank IIJI and pin |08 on bar III). Bar III) is supported at one end for movement by a roller III movablein a cam track H2 provided in a plate II4 depending from the frame. The other bar end is supported by a lever IIB mounted for limited oscillating movement on the frame as at II1 and connected to the bar as at I I8.

Roller III is mounted upon the bar I I8 so that the 7crank IIJI is effective to move the bar III) as| the roller movesin the horizontal cam track I I2. On the end of the bar is mounted a bag top engaging means indicated generally at I2I and comprising a thin narrow steel finger |22 which is so moved by conjoint action of bar I i8 and engaging means I2I that'the linger I22 grasps the long end Sli- B of a positioned bag and then lretreat to Vpull one side of the bag open t0 that position in which it appears in Figures 1 and 2. A nger |20, hinged at H9, normally engages each bag top in its closed position. As the bag is drawn into open position upon retraction of the -bar III), the bag end BIJ--B is retained in position by spring I24, whereupon the hopper can drop into the openbag end without displacing the bag top. As the hopper drops, the several sections are opened and the contents are released into the bag which the hopper has just entered.` The drop of the contents is sufficient to pull the bag out of engagement with the fingers 52 and 53 and fingers I2@ and I22, whereupon it drops through an opening in the machine frame on to a conveyor to be carried away.

Finger |29 is operated by lever |29 being rod |29 asi-bar IIII is moving forward. This forces the roller |28 clockwisefas is shown in the dotted lines in Figure 2 andv separating fingers |20 and |22. Levers |26 and |21 are fastened torod |3| which is mounted in bracket |32 mounted on bar ||0. Bracket |33 is fastened to lever |21 on which is also mounted roller |34. As roller |28 comes in contact with rod |29 it raises roller |34 into a position wherein it engages and raises bar |35 to contact lever |36 which in turn, through shaft |31, rocks finger 52 clockwise thereby permitting side 50e-A of a bag to enter at the same time that side 50-B enters between fingers |20 and |22. During the period of engagement of the bag by fingers |20|22 and fingers 52-53, lingers 53 and |22 are in engagement while their respective cooperating fingers 52 and |20 are moved to admit the bag.

vWhen lever |0| on shaft 11 has rotated to the point wherebar ||0 has advanced to its greatest extent, a release mechanism is operated which will be presently described in detail. This release causes shaft |4| tto turn slightly in a counterclockwise directionr of rotation. Levers |42 and |43 are fastened to one end of shaft |4|.

4As the shaft |4| is rotated, it raises rod |29 (Figure 2) to the position as shown by dotted lines at |44, thereby releasing roller |28 and permitting finger to rotate toward finger |22, to engage and grip between them the long edge y50--B of the bag. At the same time roller |34 is returned to its original level, thereby causing bar |35 to fall and engage pin |45. This in turn allowslever |36 toV be pulled back by spring (not shown) to the position shown by the solid lines, thereby allowing 1inger52 to rotate toward finger 53 and engage the short edge 50-A of the bag between them.

Release mechanism Y The release mechanism is operated by lever |5| and arm |52 riding on cam |53 which is fastened to the end of shaft 11. A recess |54 on cam |53 is so placed on the cam that arm |52 drops into it as lever |0| is rotated and bar I I0 has reached its point of maximum travel. Spring |55 (Figure 1) maintains a constant pressure of the arm |52 against ther cam through shaft |4|, lever |5| is fastened to frame |2 at |58 so it may swing and keep arm |52 in contact with cam |53. As arm |52 drops into recess |54 it causes lever |42 (Figure 1) to release the mechanism described above, thereby allowingngers 52-53 and riingers |20|22 to grab a bag and hold it until the contents of the hopper have been discharged into it. This same release mechanism is used to release the bag from-the pick-up unit presently described in detail.

The bag engaging unit A supply of bags is carried in container |6| (Figures 1 and 6). A bag delivery unit, generally indicated at |62, is used to pick up each bag in turn and raise it to bag holders 52-53 and |20|22.

Bag delivery unit |62 is constructed and operated as follows: Unit |62 is raised and lowered by the cooperation of arm |63 and box cam |18 and roller |11. On cam |53, a connecting rod |64 is mounted on pin |65. As shaft 11 is rotated, cam |53 is turned in a clockwise direction and connecting rod |64 is reciprocated (Figure 1). The other end of rod |64 is connected to lever |66 by pin |61 riding in slot |68. As rod |64 travels to the left, it forces lever |66 to rotate shaft |69 counterclockwise in bearing |1| on the frame |2, thereby oscillating lever |63 which is fastened to the shaft |69. The other endl of lever |63 carries a head 22| on which is pivotally mounted as at |14 a, U-member 222. The bag delivery unit |62 has a threaded rod 223 which is screwed into the U-member to enable the position of the unit to be adjusted. The bag delivery unit is movable between a substantially vertical position (Figures 1 and 6) and a horizontal position (Figure 6) in which the bag hangs vertically. To turn the unit, an internal box cam |18 is mounted on frame |2 and a roller |11 is movable in this cam, the roller being mounted on one end of arm |15 while the other en-d of the arm is connected to U-member 222. As rod |63 is raised, the unit, |62 is rotated through approximately 90 from .the solid line position of Figures 1 and 6 to the broken line position of Figure 6.

The unit |62 comprises a pair of T-members secured in a parallel but spaced relation on the head of threaded rod 223. A lever |8| is pivotally mounted between the T-members as at 224. The lever is biased toward the T-members by a spring |84 attached to the lever and to a pin 20| carried at one end of T-shaped trigger |83. The trigger is pivoted on one end of the T-cross bar on pin |89 at the end |9| of the bottom of the T-members. An aperture 226 -is provi-ded in lever |8| to pass the end of trigger |83. The trigger is notched as at 202 to engage the lever |8| and retain it in bag engaging position (Figure 10) A spring steel finger |86 is carried on the end of lever |8|.

To open the bag and permit finger |86 to enter the bag, arms |82 are rigidly mounted on opposite ends of a. rod |88 secured on leg |61 of T- shaped trigger |83; the arms extend toward the lever |8| when the latter is in latched position. The arms |82 press down on the lower side of a bag, forcing the upper edge of the short bag side upwardly. As the arms press down on the bag, they rock T-shaped trigger |83 until it releases lever |8| from retention by notch 202. When this happens, lever4r |8| moves in to pinch the bag side between the steel finger |86 and the corrugated end 221 of T-shaped trigger (Figures l1 and 12). The ends 228 of member |85 project below the end 221 of theT-shaped triggerr to hold the bag end open.

The unit is then raised to the dotted line position of Figure 6 by reciprocation of lever |63. When the unit reachesl this position, lever |43 (Figure 1) is released by cam |53 at the same time that lever |42 releases grab fingers 52-53 and |20|22; lever |43 is then rocked clockwise to engage lever |96 and rock shaft |91. This causes lever |38 to strike extension |93 on lever |8| and move the lever to latched position and to release the bag which is simultaneously caught by bag holders 52-53 and |20|22. Spring 203 on lever 204 brings levers |96 and |98 back to the position which is shown in solid lines in Figures 1 and 6.

When unit |62 pulls the uppermost bag olf the stack, it .tends to move the next bag forward slightly. To prevent this, a linger 250 is mounted on a shaft 25| adjacent the end of the stack. An arm 252 on the shaft is rocked upon movement of lever |43, a rod 253 extending between the two. Since lever |43 is rocked after the bag has been removed from the stack, finger 250 pushes the bags back and into alignment.

As shaft 11 continues to rotate, the recess in cam |53 vwill bring lever |5| back to a normal ansa-55 position; ready -ior fthe next operation'.AV Cam :H8 is mounted'on framecros'spiecezii; Braolne't 266, and' spring` 201' oni rod` lealas'sist inhol'dingzzthe bags lin place until theV bag delivery v'un-it 162 uis ready topickl-up-the next bagi A Vspring2121i.; 'positioned between armi 2421011 shaft-maand iframe' i2, eases the-bag engaging spring down `onto zthe bag stack-y when rod-1GB is released. v l l vAs vshaft llnears the endof a full rotationfpin QSinpaWl lstrikes lever 93 wliichfhasbeen'returned by spring Se, thereby causingpin 98410 raise the Vpawl oniits axis and cause the pawl -to be withdrawn from ratchet-1S, permitting it to rotate freelyA about the shaft unt-il theV operation is initiatedfagain-by movement ofhopper I6. To prevent thev unit fromover-runningwhenit is not being positively driven, a Yflatbrake"member 245i is secured on the frame and is urged by spring -246 against a side of cam l53.

' From the foregoing I believe it will be'apparent that the present machine is independent of the bag size; it is only necessary to position the bags with their uppermost vedges aligned' along a common plane. In this posit-ion, each bag can be successively positioned for engagement bythe bagdelivery unit |62 and opening in a charge receiving position.

I claim:

1. A bag engaging unit comprising a pair of spaced T-members, a lever hinged between said membersfa T-shaped trigger hinged at .one .end of the cross bar of the trigger at the end of the stem of the T of said members, aspring between said trigger and said lever, a `spring .fingerronr an end of said lever and adapted to fit/against the bottom of the stem ofsaid T-triggeiyanda pair of bag engaging presser feet securedto said T- trigger stem.l

2. A bag engaging unitV comprising a pairvoi spaced T-members, a lever hinged between said members, a T-shaped trigger hinged at one end of the cross bar Vof Vthe trigger at the `end of the stem of the T of said members, a springbetween said trigger and said lever, the end of said trigger stem being adjacent to but short of `the bottom end of the spaced T-members, a spring finger on an end of said lever-and` adapted-to t against the bottom of the stem of said YT- trigger, and a pair of bag vengaging presser feet secured to said T-trigger stem.

3. A bag opening and gripping unit comprising a pairof spaced members, ak lever hinged-at one end between saidlmembers and movable between a rst bag release position and a second bagv gripping position, a gripping mem-ber on they other end 'of said lever, aV trigger memberhin'ged between and depending Vfrom saidspaced members and having a bag side engaging end thereon cooperatively positioned with respect to `said other lever end to grip a viirst bag side therebetween when said lever is in said second position, a pair of bag edge engaging members mounted on said trigger member toy engage and press'against the outer edges'of a bag and force upwardlyi the bag portion intermediate-said edges; a spring. biasing said lever for movementffrom said .rst to said second position, and a notch insaidttrigger mem'- ber for retaining said lever in said first position until said pair of bag edge engaging members have pressed upon" said edges and forced! upwardly said intermediate Vbag-portion "whereupon said lever is unlatched' and is moved Joyfsaidspring to engage therintermediatef bag.' portion between 8 the trigger rend i and :the lever grippingfmemb'er and grilli-saldi portil'inV Y 4.1 A'bag-openingland ygripping' unit comprising al pair-of spaced members, a lever fhingedat one end*between/said members and movable between -a rstbag release position anda-second bag 'gripping-position; agrlppingi member on the other end of-'saidlever;` a'ftriggerfmember hinged between andl depending fromS saidf'spaced members and-having'. a bagside engaging end' thereon cooperatively positioned withrespeet to said other lever end'to jgrip a 2iirst -lbagiside-v therebetween when.' said lever yis in saidA lsecondfposition; apair of bag edge-engagingmembers mountedfonsaid trigger-memberto engage and, press against the outer edges of -a-'b'agandiforee upwardly :the bag portionintermediateA said edges; a: spring biasing said tleverffiir movement from'v said rstlto' said second pos-it'ionyanda notch'in saidtrigger memberf for retainingsaid 'lever 1in said viiist position until said pair of bag--edge'engagingtmembers have pressed upon said edges --and-forcedfupwardly said* intermediate bag 'portion whereupon said'lever is unlatch'edfand is moved by saidf spring to engage v'theintermediate bag portion" between the trigger end and the vlever'l gripping member and grip said'portion, the ends Afof -fsaid'spa'ced members -depending below thelplane Yof cooperative nengag'ementof sai-d" trigger end-and said lever grippingfmeans toforce the opposite 'bag side'iaway from thefrst bag sides-and providea partially open bag,

5. InanA automatic -b'agflling-machine adapted toV supply lopen bags individually-to a lling' machine associatedtherewith;v means for v'positioning a stack of bags irraside:byfsideirelationship; means for engaging the outermost side'of the outside bag in4 saidstack comprising a pair of spaced members, a lever hinged at one end between saidl members and,;m'ovable between a first. bagireleasefposition and a. second bag. gripping position', `agripping .member on the other end of-lsaidlever,` a"trigger-memberIhinged ibetweenand depending 'fromisaid spaced' members and havingaibag side 'engagingTend thereon cooperatively `-positioned with" respect 2te said' other leverr end y'to grip ranrst` bag side :therebetween when said lever is in said 'secondi position,V a pair of bag 'edgerengagingl-members mounted'on said triggermember to .engagedand 1press.'again'st 'the outer edgesfoi a-bagand:forcezupwardly the-bag portion `intermediate said "edges, afspring biasing said lev'er'iior 'movemerrtfrom said rstto said second-positionfan'd a notchin said trigger `memb'erforfretaining said leve'rin said rst position until said' pair .of bag edge-y engaging 'members have pressed upon said edges and-'forced upwardly said intermediate bagy portion whereupon said leverv is unlatched and is moved by said spring to: engage ythe intermediate bag tportionvbetween the-trigger1end and the lever 'grippingmember and gripfjsaidportion; means for moving said engagingfmeans back andiforthfv over a path" between a bag pick-up position at said stackp and afbagA release' position wher-einrthebag issuspen'de'diny af vertical open=-position; A4and means at said: bag release position" for rsubstantially simultaneously gripping opposite A'bagzsi'desA and for relatching said; lever fand saidltrigge'rrto vrelease' saidibagf from saiduen'gaging means-and recondition said engaging means to-engage 'anchine associated therewith; means for positioning a stack of bags in a side by side relationship; means for engaging the outermost side of the outside bag in said stack comprising a pair of spaced members, a lever hinged at one end between said members and movable between aeiirst bag release position and a second bag gripping position, a gripping member on the other end of said lever, a trigger member hinged between and depending from said spaced members and having a bag side engaging end thereon cooperatively positioned with respect to said other lever end to grip a first bag side therebetween when said lever is in said second position, a pair of bag edge engaging members mounted on said trigger member to engage and press against the outer edges of a bag and force upwardly the bag portion intermediate said edges, a spring biasing said lever for movement from said first to said second position, and a notch in said trigger member for retaining said lever in said rst position until said pair of bag edge engaging members have pressed upon said edges and forced upwardly said intermediate bag portion whereupon said lever is unlatched and is moved by said spring to engage the intermediate bag portion between the trigger end and the lever gripping member and grip said portion, the ends of said spaced members depending below the plane of cooperative engagement of said trigger end and said lever gripping means to force the opposite bag side away from the first bag side and provide a partially open bag; means for moving said engaging means back and forth over apath between a bag pick-up position at said stack and a bag release position wherein the bag is suspended in a vertical open position; and means at said bag release position for substantially simultaneously gripping opposite bag sides and for relatching said lever and said trigger to release said bag from said engaging means and recondition said engaging means to engage another bag upon return of said engaging means to said stack.

7. In an automatic bag lling machine adapted to supply open bags individually to a illing machine associated therewith; means for positioning a stack of bags in a side by side relationship; means for engaging the outermost side of the outside bag in said stack comprising a pair of spaced members, a lever hinged at one-end between said members and movable between a first bag release position and asecond bag gripping position, a gripping member on the other end of said lever, a trigger `member hinged between and depending from said spaced members and having a bag side engaging end thereon cooperatively positioned with respect to said other lever end to grip a first bag side therebetween when said lever is in said second position, a pair of bag edge engaging members mounted on said trigger member to engage and press against the outer edges of a bag and force upwardly the bag portion intermediate said edges, a spring biasing said lever for movement from said iirst to said secondA position, and a notch in said trigger member for retaining said lever in said rst position until said pair of bag edge engaging members have pressed upon said edges and forced upwardly said intermediate bag portion'whereupon said lever is unlatched and is moved by said spring to engage the intermediate bag portion between the trigger end and the lever gripping member and grip said portion; means for moving 10 said engaging means back and forth over a path between a .bag pick-up position at said stack and a bag release position wherein the bag is suspended in a vertical open position; and means at said bag release position for substantially simultaneously gripping (a) the side edges of the outermost bag side on each side of said lever and` spaced members, a lever hinged at one end bec tween said members and movable between a first bag release position and a second bag gripping position, a gripping member on the other end of said lever, a trigger member hinged between and depending from said spaced members and having a bag side engaging end thereon cooperatively positioned with respect to said other lever end to grip a rst bag side therebetween when said lever is in said second position, a pair of bag edge engaging members mounted on said trigger member to engage and press against the outer edges of av bag and force upwardly the bag portion intermediate said edges, a spring biasing said lever for movement from said first to said second position, and a notch in said trigger member for retaining said lever in said rst position until said pair of bag edge engaging members have pressed upon said edges and forced upwardly said intermediate bag portion whereupon said lever is unlatched and is moved by said spring to engage the intermediate bag portion between the trigger end and the lever gripping member and grip said portion, the ends of said spaced members depending below the plane of cooperative engagement of said trigger end and said lever gripping means to force the opposite bag side away from the first bag side and provide a partially open bag; means for moving said engaging means back and forth over a path between a bag pick-up position at said stack and a bag release position wherein the bag is suspended in a vertical open position; and means at said bag release position for substantially simultaneously gripping (a) the side edges of the outermost bag side on each side of said lever and trigger and (b) the opposite bag side to support the bag therebetween and for relatching said lever and said trigger to release said bag from said engaging means and recondition said engaging means to engage another bag upon return of said engaging means to said stack.

WESLEY DODGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Belcher et al Mar. 14, 1944 

